Doctor Who_ Earthworld - Jacqueline Rayner [48]
‘And if you’re wrong?’ asked Hanstrum, obviously unconvinced.
‘Just keep your fingers crossed that I’m not,’ said the Doctor, with eyebrows raised.
Anji, who poured scorn on all forms of superstition, quietly crossed her fingers behind her back. ‘Doctor. . . ’ she said.
‘Yes?’
‘When you’ve wired that thing up and saved the planet. . . could we please leave?’
He flashed her that incredible heartbreaking smile that she was so thankful she was immune to. ‘Yes, of course we can.’
Behind her back, she crossed two more fingers.
Venna Durwell led Fitz into her office and sat him down on a chair. ‘We need to talk,’ she said, narrowing her eyes. The idiot just kept sitting there. ‘Have Powerplay
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you told anyone what happened earlier?’
No response.
‘Have you forgotten our bargain, Fitz? You were supposed to tell me everything you knew about the twentieth century.’
Sightless grey eyes turned up to hers. ‘I’m not Fitz.’
‘Will you stop spouting that rubbish? Look –’ she pulled open a desk drawer and took out a gun – ‘obviously I don’t want to have to harm you. But this time I’m not going to give you a chance to get away from me. Start talking!’
The young man just stared. ‘I’m not Fitz,’ he said.
‘We’ve got about five minutes, I think,’ said the Doctor. ‘It might be an idea if you all left. Just in case.’
‘Just in case we want to be savaged on the streets by rampaging robots instead of being blown up?’ asked Anji.
‘Yes,’ said the Doctor. ‘That’s right. Where’s Fitz? Could you go and fetch him, please? It took me over a hundred years to find him – I’d rather he wasn’t killed now I’m just getting to know him again. Now, Zequathon, Xernic, Beezee, would you lead all the visitors out of the centre, please?’
Zequathon looked at the other two. ‘It’s not that we don’t want to help. . . ’
‘But?’
‘But if we go out there we’re probably going to get arrested. Stuck back in the condemned cell.’
The Doctor gave him a hard stare. ‘I thought you were fighting for the ordinary man in the street.’
‘Well, we are. . . sort of thing.’
‘Those people out there are the ordinary man in the street. In fact, some of them are probably quite influential men in the street, I would imagine, as they were privileged guests to this place. Go and rescue them, and I would think you’ll gain friendships in useful places. As well as possibly saving a number of lives, which obviously isn’t as important to you as your leafleting campaign, but give it a go, you might like it.’
Zequathon looked like he was going to argue. The Doctor sighed. ‘Mr Hanstrum?’
‘Yes?’
‘Would you please go with these boys and not arrest them?’
The man shrugged. ‘Why not?’
Beezee grabbed Zequathon’s arm. ‘Come on, Zeq. We’re not going to get a better offer. Xernic?’
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‘Um. . . ’ said Xernic. ‘Um. . . ’
‘Are you coming or what?’
It looked like Xernic was ready to cry. ‘No, I’m not. I might be able to help the Doctor if I stay.’ But he was looking at Anji, not the Doctor.
‘Have it your own way, then,’ said Beezee, shrugging and leading Zequathon out of the room.
‘I’ll see you later!’ Xernic called desperately after them.
‘Whatever,’ came floating back.
‘I’m not a very good rebel,’ said the redheaded boy, forlornly.
Anji put her arm round him. ‘Yes, you are. You’re a lovely rebel. Come and help me to find Fitz.’
He smiled then.
‘I’m not Fitz.’
‘Stop saying that!’
Venna Durwell was getting more than irritated. She was fast approaching furious. (a), This kid was getting on her nerves. (b), She had to find out if he’d blabbed to anyone, because it could ruin her reputation if he had. (c), Oh yes, and she could get arrested for kidnap and threatening behaviour. (d), She needed information from him in order to get out